civility

[ si-vil-i-tee ]

/ sɪˈvɪl ɪ ti /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: civility / civilities on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural ci·vil·i·ties.

courtesy; politeness.

a polite action or expression: an exchange of civilities.

Archaic. civilization; culture; good breeding.

OTHER WORDS FOR civility

1 affability, amiability, manners, tact.

See synonyms for civility on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of civility

1350–1400; Middle English civilite<Middle French <Latin cīvīlitāt- (stem of cīvīlitās) courtesy. See civil, -ity

OTHER WORDS FROM civility

o·ver·ci·vil·i·ty, noun

Words nearby civility

civilian, civilian clothes, Civilian Conservation Corps, civilianize, civilian review board, civility, civilization, civilize, civilized, civil law, civil libertarian

How to use civility in a sentence

As 4,000 troops occupied the building, the raucous scene was a far cry from the civility of lawmaking.
Troops lodged in the Capitol in 1861. It was a wreck when they left.|Meryl Kornfield, Felicia Sonmez|January 14, 2021|Washington Post
Rather than accepting a race to the bottom that downgrades and divides us, we can together create a technology landscape that enables a race to the top—one that supports our interconnection, civility, and deep brilliance.
Big Tech’s attention economy can be reformed. Here’s how.|Gideon Lichfield|January 10, 2021|MIT Technology Review
So it’s important to encourage people to have the patience, civility, and restraint to actually wait for the outcome of the election and to trust the process.
Election 2020: Counting on business to seek fair ballot counts|matthewheimer|October 30, 2020|Fortune
While this may seem like a reasonable statement for the sake of digital civility, it raised the eyebrows of many women, especially women of color, who have consistently been on the receiving end of Twitter death threats and worse for years.
The Greatest Threat to Democracy Might Not Be What You Expect|Shaan Merchant|October 28, 2020|Ozy

Regarding culture, I’m very motivated and concerned this year about democratic norms and civility within our government.
What Are Undecided Voters Thinking?|Nick Fouriezos|October 7, 2020|Ozy
The “new civility” promoted by Antoine Courtin expected the mouth to be kept shut when smiling.
The French Court’s Royal Ban on Smiles|William O’Connor|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Indeed, they view us as children who can never adhere to the standards of civility and decency to which they hold other groups.
Dear White People: Well-Meaning Paternalism Is Still Racist|Chloé Valdary|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We should expect the default to be civility, not harassment.
Hey, Creeps, ‘Compliments’ Are Harassment, Too|Tauriq Moosa|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Its civility has been crushed; its fragile peace has been blown apart by the mindless toxicity of a summer of violence.
The Gaza War Has Left Jerusalem More Divided Than Ever|Peter Schwartzstein|August 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His second appearance was late Thursday, where he met civility with his own.
An Uneasy Peace Falls on Ferguson after Local Cops Called Off|Justin Glawe|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Am I not in France—gay, delightful France—partaking of the kindness and civility of the country?
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various
The same game of finesse was played at his own table; for there De Patinos had for some time assumed an air of civility.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
A courteous manner, and graceful offer of service are valued highly when offered, and the giver loses nothing by her civility.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley
Nothing could rouse him out of his tame civility, which had been taken more than once for obsequiousness.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
He omitted no opportunity of showing marked civility to Tallard.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay

British Dictionary definitions for civility

civility

/ (sɪˈvɪlɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

politeness or courtesy, esp when formal

(often plural) an act of politeness

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

civility

OTHER WORDS FOR civility

Origin of civility

OTHER WORDS FROM civility

Words nearby civility

Words related to civility

How to use civility in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for civility